Release Date: February 20th 2025. Record Label: Humalien Records. Formats: DD
Illusions - Track Listing:
1. 70/30 - 7:57
2. Thunder - 4:01
3. Dream Eater - 5:29
4. Midnight - 4:38
5. Plastic People - 6:41
6. Illusion ft. Space Queen - 11:26
Members
Eric Gorzynski - Vocals/Guitar
Alex Graham - Backup Vocals/Bass
Colton Schofield - Drums
John Hermary - Vocals/Guitar
Review
Illusions is the debut album from Psych/Fuzz/Stoner Rockers SweetBeast who fuse a classic style of Blues, Grunge, Sludge and Americana vibes into their music and these guys are Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. This record could have easily suffered from a real sense of identity crisis as SweetBeast go through multiple different styles of Heavy Rock though this album is an absolute marvel with the band crafting a subtle record that is superbly heavy and beautifully pop-centered when the mood calls for this.
With influences of bands such as Alice In Chains, QOTSA, King Buffalo and KYUSS appearing within the creative throws of the entire record, SweetBeast employ a loud, vast and desolate landscape which comes alive superbly well in the early stages of the album on tracks such as 70/30, Thunder and Dream Eater. The tracks convey a fine art of cinematic storytelling and instrumental Psychedelic jams which can be quite daring with it’s epic grooves and screeching sludgy guitars which becomes more Post-Rock, Post-Doom and Alt-Rock as time passes by.
The vocals are rich and quite varied that are provided by band members Eric Gorzynksi (Guitar), Alex Graham (Bass) and John Hermany (Guitar). The band have their good friends Space Queen providing guest vocals on the stunning final title track and it’s really one of the genuine highlights of the whole album. As the track can be dominated by a “POPPIER” vibe without losing that Sludge/Stoner element SweetBeast expertly built up on the whole album.
Illusions is firmly rooted in both Classic Rock and Modern Rock soundscapes which allows SweetBeast to switch musical tactics throughout that allows the record to be quite a tender and emotionally charged record at point before exploding into a neverending style of Cosmic Doomed Out grooves. With a soulful Prog Rock delivery appearing on later stages of the record that resonates the most when moments of Fuzz Rock and Post-Rock appear out of nowhere and drags the album closer to the likes of ELDER, King Buffalo and WeedPecker before the record is out.
Illusions is built upon excellent production values that has a certain resemblance to the seedy backdrop of 1970’s Doomedelic Rock and the swagger of the 1990’s Grunge/Stoner Rock scene. SweetBeast have released an outstanding debut album that should see the band gain a significant following within the underground scene to make themselves more well known.
Overall, Illusions is a spectacular record that everyone should own right now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Asher Media PR for the promo.
Illusions will be available to digitally via Humailen Records from Friday 21st February 2025.
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